Baobab Syndrome: Death of a Planet

Art Evolution

Baobab Syndrome: Death of a Planet 

Dr Abe V Rotor

 Art work by the author from caked emulsion paint and tree seedling skeleton, 

mounted on open frame for laboratory study, and as a wall decor, too.

 

* The phrase "Baobab Syndrome: Death of a Planet" appears to be a metaphorical reference to the classic novel The Little Prince, where unchecked baobab growth threatens to destroy a small planet. It also alludes to the real-world, climate change-related deaths of ancient African baobab trees that are currently occurring at an alarming rate.

The Metaphor from Literature
In Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's The Little Prince, the young prince describes the danger of baobabs on his home asteroid. He explains that while the seedlings are small and easily removed, if left to grow, their strong roots will eventually overrun and split his tiny planet apart. Symbolism: The baobabs serve as a powerful metaphor for procrastination and the dangers of neglecting problems. The story warns that "when it is a matter of baobabs, that always means a catastrophe". If personal or societal issues are not addressed early, they can take firm root and become insurmountable, leading to a metaphorical "death of a planet" (the destruction of an individual's life or world).

The Real-World Phenomenon
In a striking real-world parallel, many of Africa's oldest and largest baobab trees are currently dying off at an unprecedented rate, a phenomenon scientists link to climate change. The Dying Giants: A 2018 study published in the journal Nature Plants reported that nine of the 13 oldest baobabs (aged between 1,000 and 2,500 years) and five of the six largest individuals had died or had their oldest stems collapse and die within the previous 12 years.

Suspected Cause: While the exact cause is difficult to confirm for certain, researchers widely suspect that increased temperatures and extreme drought stress in Southern Africa, driven by climate change, are to blame. The trees, typically resilient and known as the "tree of life" for their ability to store vast amounts of water, appear unable to cope with the rapid environmental changes.

A Warning Sign: For many scientists and conservationists, the shocking and sudden deaths of these ancient, resilient trees are seen as a stark warning about the significant impact of climate change on the planet's most enduring life forms.
Thus, the phrase effectively merges a powerful literary metaphor with a pressing ecological crisis, framing the real-world baobab deaths as a warning of potential global catastrophe if environmental issues are neglected.  Acknowledgement with gratitude AI Overview/Internet ~